fencible

I find that the ACM radar modes work OK in the DS F18C - slower locking, narrower acquisition fields, and more realistic than in the 'perfect-magic' FC3 aircraft - but they are all short range only, limited to ~5 nm. The AIM-7 is supposed to be a BVR missile, but I can't get it to lock on at more than 5 miles. If that's the realistic performance, then I'd rather be using an all-aspect AIM-9 which is lighter, cheaper, more reliable, and most importantly - fire-and-forget.

Yes, exactly. This is why I am reporting it. I was just seeking corroboration with other DCS F18C pilots to confirm that I was not simply making a procedural error of some kind.

Select the pylon or pylon buttons (just above the landing gear status lights) for the tanks you want to drop. Rotate the selector ring around the jettison button to the 5 o'clock position (I forget how it is labeled), and press the jettison button.

If you watch the 2nd or 3rd episode in this series - an 8-part documentary on a group of students training on the CF-188 (CF18 ) with 410 squadron at Cold Lake - you'll see a real incident that occurred during a formation landing in which the student over-controls with the pedals at touchdown - and gets into yaw oscillations that nearly put her into her wingman. The instructor in the backseat has to take control. - So 'yes' it is realistic.... [spoiler alert] ...the woman student did eventually graduate, and went on to become the 1st female fighter pilot to intercept a Bear bomber...

Thank you. I will try the uncage button, as you suggest. However, I was pointing out that the functionality set forth on page 108 of the Manual does not function as written in the Caucasus map. This is the passage I refer to: "Pressing the Sensor Control Switch to the right when the TDC is already assigned to it will place the RADAR in Auto Acquisition (AACQ) mode. If the TDC if over a target symbol when AACQ is commanded, it will instruct the RADAR to lock on to that target. If AACQ is pressed with no target symbol under the acquisition symbol, then the RADAR will attempt to lock on to the closest target within the selected RADAR scan volume." ....

While flying the F18C in the Caucasus map I find that airborne targets still appear on my radar screen when it is in standby mode. AI aircraft also appear to sense my radar as active when it is in standby mode and will head straight for me from long range, even when I am 'hiding' in mountain valleys, etc. In addition to that, the radar does not want to lock (go to STT) target when I press right on the Sensor Control switch under any circumstances, although I see no sign of jamming from the would-be target aircraft. It will lock on in Bore-sight, and other close range dogfight modes (vertical and wide). This negates the usefulness of the AIM 7. I do not see any sign of AI air-to-air radar on my EWS display. The failure to lock into STT mode appears to be associated only with the Caucasus map, as I have watched youtube videos (Grim Reapers preview videos and others) of correct locking behaviour on the Persian Gulf map.

+1 Mirage IIIC - a good adversary for the Mig21Bis. I'd like to see this, too.